Portable deck



G. G. GREULICH .PORTABLE DECK July 11, 1944.

2 Sheet Filed Aug. 5, 1943 Illu I! IIIIIOIIIII.

Pu @NME null...

yJuly 11, 41944.-

G; G. GREULI'CH PORTABLE DECK Filed Aug.I 5, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lINVENTOR 65ML@ 6. GRH/UCM IIIA J4 I@ 15.' l 2 l Patented. 'July 11, 1944PORTABLE DECK Gerald G. Greulieh, Mount Lebanon, Pa., asslgnor toCarnegie-Illinois Steel Corporatioma oorporation of New JerseyApplication August 5,1943, Serial No. 497,498 (C1.v 94-13) 4 6 Claims.

This invention relates to portable decks or mats which are adapted forrapid assembly and dismantling, and particularly, to an improvedportable deck especially adaptable asa landing field 4or decking forairplane runways, or forlpaved areas for other vehicular trailic.

In my copending application, Serial No. 456,233, illed August 26, 1942,which is entitled ,Portable deck, there is shown and described a deck ormat similar to that disclosed in the present application, but thepresent deck is deemed to be an improvement thereover. cation, there isprovided rectangular-shaped plates having interlocking meanslfarrangedalong their adjacent longitudinally extending edges so I as tol effectanv interlock between each of the plates along the sides thereof. Whilethe interlocking means shown. therein is extremely effective andsatisfactory for locking together the plates at the sides thereof,therelis not provided any means for connecting together the plates atthe ends.

Due to lack of continuity between the abutting ends of adjacent platesor planks in such a deck, there is a tendency, if a wheel load isdisposed on or near the end of any particular plate, for the center ofthat plate to be depressed; whereas the adjacent plates being unloadedremain in a higher plane. With repeated usage of the deck, particularlywhere the planes run in a track, the offset between the ends of theplates at the Vjoints becomes great enough so as to be objectionable,

In my prior applil" lsurface thereof and which can be manipulated fromlthe upper or top side of the plates or deck so that any particularplate can be easily and quickly removed or replaced.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide animproved portable deck made of metallic plates having end interlockingmeans carried thereby which is simple, inexpensive, and compact in itsconstruction, and at ythe `same time, efficient and effective in its'use.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be moreapparent in the course of the following specification and will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown, for the purpose ofillustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

Inthese drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the portable deck or mat of my inventionshowing my improved particularly on soft soil or an uneven terrain.

It is therefore obvious that if a means were provided for interlockingthe adjacent ends of the plates vas well as the sides, there would beprovided an additional measure of.' continuity which would eliminateundesirable differential elevations between the ends ,of the plates;and, lat the same time, there would` be provided a deck having a moreuniform elevation of the surfacesof all component parts over the entirearea of the runway,

and it is to such an end-connecting means that the present inventionrelates.

Accordingly. it is the general object Aof the present invention toprovide an'improved portable deck made of metallic plates havingcooperating means arranged on each of the kplates .adjacent-. the endsvthereof for interconnecting' the abut;

ting ends of the same which will not interfere with the rapid laying ofthe deck.

It is another object of the invention to provide endl-connecting orinterlocking means incorporated therewith; ,I

Figure 2 is a plan view showing details of the preferred form of theinterlocking means arfranged along the side or longitudinally extendingedges of each of the plates;

Figure 3 is a sectional view'taken on line III- III of Figure 2l Figure4 is a plan view of the end portionsof two adjacent plates of myportable deck showing the improved means of the present invention forconnecting the ends of the plates together;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line V--V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line VL-VIof Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line VII-VII of Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved portable deckor met of my invention comprises a plurality of rectangular-shaped animproved portable deck made of metallic plates having end interlockingmeans carried thereby- 'which is positioned below the upper surface o!metallic plates 2 which are laid side \by side in rows with the platesof adjacent rows vbeing staggered relative to each other ina mannersimilar to that in which brickwork is laid so as to pro-l vide acontinuous unitary deck or mat as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.Along one of the sides or longitudinally extending edges of each. of

ings or slots 6,

the plates 2, there is arranged a. plurality of spaced apart lugs 3which are preferably T- shaped and which extend outwardly anddownwardlyY from the edge of the plate so as to be disposed angularlyrelative thereto. As more clearly shownin Figures 2 and-3 of the drawaplurality of similarly spaced apart openings or slots 6, which areshapedsimilarly to the lugs 3, but have slightly larger dimensions so as toprovide a slightly larger portion 1 for receiving the head portion 5 ofa lug, and a slightly larger stem portion 8 for receiving the shank orstem portion 4 thereof. The portion 1 of each of the openings adapted toreceive the head portion of the lug is' disposed preferablysubstantially in ,the plane of the plate, as shown-in Figure 3, with thestem portion 8 adapted to receive the shank portion 'of the lug arrangeddownwardly and outwardly so as to be disposed angularly relativethereto. 'I'he lugs 3 of one `plate are adapted to be inserted in theopenings 6 of an adjacently disposed plate so as to eiect an interlocktherebetween in a manner hereinafter to be described.

On the inner side of at least some of the openpreferably every otherone, as shown inFigures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, there is arrangedpreferably an outwardly and downwardly extending lip or lug portion 9,which projects into the area of the enlargedportion- 'I of the openingor slot 6 for a. purpose to be described.

In each of the plates 2, there is arranged, preferably a plurality ofrows of openings or apertures Illv which are shown as being circularshaped in the lpresent instance. Around the edges of each of theapertures I Il, there is disposed preferably an inwardly and downwardlyextending flange portion I2 so as to converge toward the bottom thereof.The ange portions I2 are preferably struck up and formed from. thematerial punched from the plate to form the circular-shaped openings"I0, Between each of the rows of openings I0, there is formed in each ofthe plates, a downwardly extending U-shaped rib portion I3-which extendspreferably throughout the length of the plate for' strengthening thesame.

According to the present invention, as shown more clearly in Figures 4through 7 of the drawings, there is arranged on the bottom side of eachof the plates 2 adjacent one end thereof and directly next to the bottomsurface of the plate and each of the U-shaped rib portions I3 ar' rangedtherein, a latch member I4 preferably 4made of iiat stock rolled metalhaving a hookshalped portion I5 arranged on the outer end thereof and a.shank portion I6 which ispivotally attached to the body portion of theplate preferably b y means'of a flattened-head countersunk rivet I1.There is arranged in each 'of the plates directly above each of thelatch members I4 carried thereby, an elongated opening I 8 preferablyextending longitudinally of the plate for a 'purpose to be described. Onthe opposite end of each of the Iplates there is arranged in the sidewall of each of the U-shaped rib portions I3 at a spaced distance fromthat end of the plate, a slotted opening I9 having its axis extendingtransversely of the yplates and arranged directly `below the bottomsurface thereof.v 'Ihe vfrom these center plates.

and 100.

hook-shaped portions I5 of the latch members' I4 disposed on any one ofthe plates are adapted to cooperate with the slotted openings I9 in therib portions I3 of an adjacent plate in a manner hereinafter to bedescribed.

The improved portable deck or mat of my invention is .assembled in thefollowing manner. The plates are preferably assembled from the center ofthe area upon which the deck is adapted to be disposed and outwardly inopposite directions therefrom. To start the laying of the plates, theheads 5 of the lugs 3 arranged along the edge of one of the plates areinterlocked with the heads ofl the lugs of the adjacently disposed platewith the plates disposed in substantially a horizontal position on theground. In order to hold the lugs in engagement with each other so as toprevent longitudinal movement of the plates relative to each other andthe disengagement of the lugs, there is disposed aroundthe shankportions d of the interlocked lugs 3, preferably awire binding member,but it will be understood that any other suitable means may be providedfor holding these lugs in interlocked relation. By starting the layingof the deck in such a manner, it will be seen that the edges oftheseplates which are disposed in substantially the center of the areawill have, their openings or slots 6 disposed to each side thereof andwill be free to receive the lugs 3 of the plate to be assembled andadjacently disposed in each direction from the center plates.

The succeeding plates are assembled into position in the followingmanner in each direction 'Ihe plate to be positioned is disposed at anangle with the horizontal, with such angle being between approximately40 'I'he head portions 5 of each of the lugs 3 along the edges of theplate are then inserted into the enlarged part 'I of the openings 6arranged along the edge of the horizontally disposed center plate whichhas already been laid in position on the ground. After the heads 5 ofthe lugs have been inserted in their respective openings 6, that plateis moved to a substantially horizontal position and to the position itwill assume upon the ground. The remaining plates of the deck areassembled in a similar manner until the desired size deck is obtained.

Upon movement of the plates to their substantially horizontal positionafter the lugs 3 have been inserted in the openings 6, it will be seenthat the shank or stem portions 4 of the lugs move downwardly into placeand rest in the enlarged stem portions 8 of their respective openingsdue to the angular arrangement thereof, as shown 'in Figure 3. In suchposition `it will be seen that the lugs 3 are disposed in the openings6- beneath the bottom of the adjacently disposed plate, with the inneredges of the lugs being disposed beneathv the outer edges of theenlarged part I of the openings 6. In other words, the

stem portions of the slots permit the neck behind the projecting head ofthe adjacent plate to enter and lie below the top surface of the deck.It will be seen that the component or vertical l edge or edges on eitherside of the slots restrain horizontal plane to accommodate and permitentry of the head portion of the lugs. Also. if

desired, the depth of the enlarged portion 'I ofto permitentry of thelugs only when they are disposed substantially perpendicular thereto orin a vertical plane. In such an arrangement the outer edges of the lugswould be disposed beneath the inner edges of the openings or slots 6when the plates are moved to a. horizontal position thereby preventingvertical movement of the lugs through the openings.

The outwardly projecting lip portions 9 which extend over the heads ofthe lugs after assembling are provided so as to'prevent the verticalmovement of the heads of the lugs 3 from their position below the plateand through the openings 6. In other words, the head portions 5 ofthelugs 3, do not extend in under the edges of the slots 'I but aremaintained in place vertically solely by the lip portions 9. Such aconstruction possesses the advantages that any particular plate in thedeck may be removed in case of damage for repairs or replacement withoutmoving or disturbing the remainder of the plates therearound. If it isdesired at any time to remove any particular plate from the deck, theprojecting lugs or lip portions 9 are bentdownwardly or upwardly asdesired, as shown inthe V broken lines of Figure 3 of the drawings, soas to permit the passage of the' heads 5 of the lugs 3 up through theenlarged portions l of the openings 6 with little or no` pivotingmovement. The new plate to be assembled therein is engaged with theadjacent plate, in a manner hereinbefore described, and moved to itshorizontal position with thelugs thereof positioned in the openings ofthe adjacent plate. After such plate has been moved to its horizontalposition, the vlugs 9 are again bent outwardly and upwardly, or inwardlyand downwardly, as the case may be, as shown in the full lines of Figure3, so as to prevent upwardmovement of the heads of the lugs through theopenings with the lip portion performing its original function oflocking the projecting head in position. l

The end-connecting means of the present invention for interlocking theabutting ends o f the plates are manipulated in the following manner.After the plates have been assembled in the man- 'ner described with theside or longitudinally extending abutting edges interconnected so as toprovide a, deck of the desired size, it will be seen that the ends ofadjacent plates are spaced a slight distance from each other, as shownin Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings. In order to move each of the latchmembers Minto engagement with -the respective slotted openings I9, a

' suitable tool is inserted into the elongated opening I8 arranged inthe plates above each of the latch members. The tool is manipulatedso asto engage the shank portion I6 of the latch member so` as to move thehook-shaped portion I5 relative to each other. The latch members may bemoved to unlocked position by inserting and moving said tool in thespace between the ends of the plates.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided a,device for locking the ends of the plates together which can bemanipulated from the top or upper side of the plates or thereofoutwardly toward the end of the plate, as

shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. latch member has' been moved so as toextend across the opening between the abutting ends of the plates, thetool is then inserted in the space between the abutting ends and thelatch memberv mov'eduntil the hook-shaped portion I5 carried therebypasses through the respective .slotted opening I9; in the side wall ofthe rib portion `I3 so as to engage therewith. After all .of the latchmembers have been moved to their Ilocked position in the mannerdescribed, it will be seen that the abutting ends of all ofthe platesare interlocked so as to prevent movement thereof After the deck eitherto unlock or to lock the same, and which will not interfere with therapid initial laying and side locking of the deck. It will also be seenthat there is provided an end-locking arrangement which willnot'interfere with the stacking of the plates during storing or shippingwhich is one of the most important aspects of the present invention.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for thepurpose of illustration and description and that various other forms maybe devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim: 1. A portable deck of the class described comprising aplurality of metallic plates for rapid attachment to and detachment fromeach other, each of said plates consisting of a substantiallyrectangular-shaped body portion of rolled metal, means arranged alongthe longitudinally extend-y ing edges of each of said plates forconnecting the same to adjacent plates disposed to either side thereof,at least one hook member `mounted on the bottom side of each of saidplates adjacent one end thereof and arranged for pivotal movement in aplane substantially parallel thereto, and a hook receiving portionarranged on the opposite end of each of them whereby the hook member onthe end of any one plate is adapted to cooperate with a hook receivingportion of an adjacent plate disposed at that end thereof whereby theends ofthe plates are securely locked together so as to prevent movementthereof relative to each other.v

2. A portable deck of the class described comprising a plurality ofmetallic plates for rapid attachment to and detachment from eachother,each of said plates consisting of a'substantially rectangular-shapedbody portion of rolled metal, means arranged along the longitudinallyextending edges of each of said plates for connecting the same toadjacent plates disposed to either side thereof, at least one hookmember mounted on the bottom side of each of said plates adjacent oneendthereof and arranged for pivotal movement in a plane lsubstantially anda, downwardly extending rib portion formed in the opposite end of eachof said plates having an opening arranged therethrough substantiallyparallel to the plane of the plate and positioned at a spaced distance'from the end thereof., said hook member on the end of any one of saidplates adapted to cooperate with the opening through each of said platesconsisting of a substantially d body portion of rolled metal extendingribs` rectangular-shap having a plurality of. downwardly formed thereinextending throughout the length thereof, means arranged along thelongitudinally parallel thereto,l

,extending edges of each of said plates for connecting the same toadjacent plates 'disposed to either side thereof, anda plurality of hookmembers mounted on the bottom side of each of said plates adjacent oneend thereof and arranged for pivotal movement in a plane substantiallyparallel thereto, each o f said ribs having an opening arranged in theside wall thereof at a spaced distance from the end of the plate on the'end oposite that from said hook members. said lrpok members on the 'endoi', any one of said plates adapted to cooperate with the respectiveopenings in the ribs of an Vadjacent plate disposed at the endthereofvwhereby the ends of the plates are securely locked together soas to prevent movement thereof relative to each other.

4. A portable deck of the class described, as dei'lned in* claim 3,wherein each of the plates has an opening arranged therethrough adjacenteach of the hook members vcarried thereby so that the same may bemanipulated through said openings whereby the hook members can be movedto their locked position.

5. A portable deck of the class described, as defined in claim 3,wherein each of the hook members consists of a fiat metallic memberhaving a hook-shaped portion arranged on the outer end thereof which isadapted to-engage with a slotted opening in the side walls oi' therespective ribs,

are securely locked with the inner end of each of the hook members beingpivotally attached to the body of the plate by means of a rivet so thatthe hook members are positioned directly of the plate and to therein.

6. A Vportable deck of the class described comprising a plurality oftachment to and detachment from each other, each of said platesconsisting of a substantially rectangular-shaped body portion of rolledmetal, means arranged along the longitudinally extending edges of eachof said plates for connecting the same to adjacent plates disposed toeither side thereof, at least one hook member mounted on the bottom sideof each of said plates adjacent one-end thereof and arranged for pivotalAmovement in a plane substantially parallel thereto, and a downwardlydepending portion carried by each of said plates adjacent the oppositeend thereof having an opening arranged therein, said hook member on theend of any one-of said plates adapted to cooperate with the opening inthe depending portion of an adjacent plate disposed at ,the end thereofwhereby the ends of the plates together so as to prevent movementthereof relative to each other.

one side of the ribs formed GERALD G. GREULICH.

next to the bottom surface metallic plates for rapid at-

